A/N: Hello everyone! I apologize for the delay in updates. I've been drowned in work but hopefully I can get back to regular updates soon enough (as we are closing in on the end). I hope you enjoy! Reviews are appreciated ^_^
"What are your orders, Empress?" James asked.
They were back in her suite, away from the death and decay that inundated Nae'ell's room. She hadn't said a word on the walk back, mind reeling from what lay below the floor boards. At this point, Melia was certain that Nae'ell was her saboteur, the villain in the shadows who had moved against her from the very beginning. How could she have been so stupid to miss it? The woman had been right before Melia's eyes and yet she refused to even entertain the possibility.
But that was past. The evidence was there and the truth discovered; it all made sense. Everything fell into place.
One question still remained: why?
Melia thought back to Nae'ell's words shortly after Camar's attempted coup, after her choice between Fiora and Nae'ell. The shouting match that had happened and torn Melia's heart asunder. Was that fury the Entian woman hurled at the Empress more than anger at the choice? Had her brother's fiancée been longing to say those things to the Empress for the past nine months? Maybe more? The claim that Melia was a traitor to her race, favoring Homs over High Entia seemed to reflect the current state of things. But her words about Melia's choice to journey with Shulk and the others shortly before the Holocaust was something likely buried in the woman, long dormant, waiting for the opportune moment to be expressed. Did Nae'ell want her to pay for all the destruction that she believed the Empress had wrought? Was that the answer?
"Empress." Elrich said, jogging her back to the present.
Melia blinked twice, registering they were back in the parlor of her suite. She turned to them, her eyes solemn. "Alert the Royal Guard. Get the body out of there. Comb her room for any evidence of conspiracy and treason."
"I will go." Elrich said. "James will stay with you."
"No, it must be both of you." The woman shook her head. "I don't know who else is part of this ploy, though I suspect it was limited to Nae'ell, Camar and Miriall. However, there could be another Aldeorn in our midst, awaiting the time to strike. We must be careful and the two of you must lead this effort. I cannot trust anyone else."
"Someone must stay with you. In the event...she comes back." James said, a stern expression on his face.
The Homs Entia closed her eyes and sighed. There was only one answer to that quandary.
"Bring Dunban here."
Elrich and James exchanged a look. It was apparent that neither liked that idea.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, James." Melia said. Turning her gaze from one to the next, she said, "He is the only other person I can trust at this point."
Neither said anything for a moment. But James broke the silence: "I'll stay until he arrives."
"Thank you, both."
They hesitated, but departed as ordered. Fidgeting with her hands, Melia felt the tears burn through her eyes, fleeing down her face. Her heart quivered in her chest. Nae'ell was truly dangerous. To have crafted such a plan must have taken months in advance. How many times had the Empress been in her presence alone, defenseless, trusting? Swallowing, the young woman wiped away the evidence of fear and sat in her armchair, attempting to sink into the cushiony fabric and relax. Not something that would happen easily.
A rapping on the door. She jumped in her seat at the noise. Trembling, she stood and called, "Come in."
In the blink of an eye, Dunban was in front of her, his eyes full of concern and intensity. Silently, he took her hand in his; a gesture of support and comfort, regardless of the status of their relationship.
"Did Elrich tell you?"
He shook his head and she led him to the sofa, hands still holding one another. Together they sat, only an arm's distance away. "What happened?" He paused then added, "You do not have to tell me if you'd rather not. Either way, I will keep you company."
Her heart sighed and the urge to reach out and kiss him burned strongly within her. But the young woman tempered it and instead began to unfold the story of her evening, starting with her memories of the conversation with Alderon. She detailed every comment the young Entian man had made about the woman antagonist and how Melia started to consider that the woman was not Miriall, but another player in the game. Then, the Empress described her memories of Camar's speech during her imprisonment, diving into the details of what actions he had taken credit for, illuminating what was disregarded. She described her early morning visitations with James and Elrich to Camar's apartment as well as Miriall's. Then finally, her revelation only an hour ago of Nae'ell's guilt, which led to the trespassing of the Entian woman's apartment, and ultimately the discovery of the body of Camar.
He was silent for a minute before he answered: "So it was her all along."
"I believe so."
"Are you alright?"
"I...I don't know."
Dunban pulled her to him and kissed her on her forehead. "I wish you had told me before." He sighed and continued, "I'm sorry you didn't feel you could tell me. That's my fault."
Wrapping her arms around his torso, she asked, "How did this happen, Dunban? Why would she do this?"
"Anger and hatred poisons people, Melia. And sometimes...you can't save them. They just destroy themselves and everything else around them." His voice was faraway, and she gazed up at him. Was he thinking about Senara? A small flare of jealousy burned in the pit of her stomach, but it quickly extinguished into nothingness. He was here with her. That's all that mattered.
Sitting up, Melia gazed directly into his eyes. "I want to apologize, in case anything happens."
"Nothing's going to happen, Melia. I won't let it."
She couldn't help but give him a sad smile. "Dunban. I was unfair to you the other night when you visited me after the Memorial. I allowed my emotions of the day to get the better of me and I lashed out at you. I should know to control my emotions and I apologize for that."
The man shook his head and brushed his hand against her cheek. "It is I who should apologize. The way I handled telling you...I am not good with words and I caused you unnecessary pain."
"Is there nothing I can say to change your mind?"
"I...I am afraid not."
Melia felt her heart ache and she closed her eyes, leaning her cheek into his hand. The words stung, but not in the same way they had days ago. It was a different feeling, this one hopeless instead of stunned and hurt. Opening her eyes, she found him watching her, his face twisted in pain. At least she was not alone in this separation.
"Help me forget. Just for a little while."
She rose and walked towards her bedroom, stopping in the doorway and glancing over her shoulder.
"Are you sure?" He asked as he stood.
Silently, Melia nodded and walked into the dimly lit room. Still in her pajamas, she slipped them off in exchange for her silk night dress. It was a peach color, the skirt falling right above her knees. Her shoulders were bare save for the two small straps. It wasn't a provocative piece of clothing, but the silk gave away its sensual purpose. As she slid into the bed, Dunban entered, closing the door behind him. His gaze was unreadable, but she felt it was something akin to nervousness. She too was nervous, not entirely sure how far she would go during this liasion. But at the very least, the woman wanted his body next to hers.
Slowly, he removed his shirt. Her eyes were glued to his movements, both taken by his stunning physique and curiosity as to the process of undressing with one arm of use. But as his hand moved lower, Melia jerked her head away, blushing. It was not proper to gawk.
She waited until she felt the rustle of the blankets and the mattress give way next to her. A few fingers touched her shoulder, sliding across her skin and down her arm. The single touch gave way to a jolt of desire, though she kept her body from externally reacting. One touch and her body burned for him. Turning, Melia faced him sitting up, her vision filled with his bare chest, chiseled jawline, and warm eyes.
Those eyes.
Parting her lips, the Empress felt words cross over her tongue but die before exiting into the space between their bodies. She felt herself flush, feeling sheepish at her inability to speak. He watched her, as if waiting to see what she would do, which only increased her anxiety. Her heart thudded in her chest and she swallowed, wishing they could jump ahead of the awkward moment and find themselves in an embrace. But seconds passed, and all either one of them did was stare, the tension cloying the air in and around them. A timid smile played on her lips and she broke eye contact, looking away. How did one start such an act? This was entirely unfamiliar territory to her. Her right hand felt weak and out of the corner of her eye, she could see it tremble. The woman gripped the soft sheet, her knuckles turning white, to hide the shaking.
Doubts ran through her head at the reminder of her lack of experience. Their physical intimacy, while quite enflamed, had only progressed so far. And now the young woman had clearly stated that she wanted more. But was she truly prepared for such actions? Would she be unable to reciprocate what he would possibly give unto her? Could she take the words back if she wanted to?
A slight pressure drew her back from the internal struggle and to the man in front of her. His hand had enclosed her own, each finger slowly pulling hers away from the blanket she gripped so tightly.
"We don't need to do anything you're not comfortable with." Dunban murmured, leaning in to kiss her cheek as he interlaced his fingers with hers. "We don't need to do anything at all."
Melia felt her breath catch in her throat, blocking her airway. She felt dizzy, not quite believing what was happening. The simultaneous desire and fear immobilized her; her body electrified. The man lay down, guiding her to join him; their bodies parallel. They lay side by side, noses almost touching. Cautiously, Dunban shifted a little closer to her, placing his hand on her waist. Her breath hitched in her throat. A burst of adrenaline bloomed in the spot underneath the silk dress, and sending tiny jolts down to her hips.
She dropped her eyes to his mouth.
Without giving it a second thought, the young woman closed the distance and put her lips to his. They were soft kisses, shy ones. Considering their last couple of encounters, she was hesitant to dive head first into igniting the sparks that lay in wait to be struck to life. He too followed her example, pulling her close and gently brushing his lips to hers. Each kiss was slower than the one before, each exploring as if it were the first time. A slow burn of pleasure warmed her stomach. She savored the pressure of his lips on hers; the feel of his bare chest under her hands; his hand that pressed into the bottom of her back.
They broke apart for breath, but only far enough so their noses touched. Though their actions were delicate in nature, the pressure built in her chest, causing her breath to come ragged. The woman noticed his chest rose and fell moreso than needed for the common breath. She peered into his eyes, seeing the same yearning she felt. Sparks flared, transforming into a blaze, scorching her core all the way down to her hips, and lower. Her heart pounded, the anticipation causing butterflies in her stomach.
But Dunban didn't move, instead studying her with his eyes. Melia realized he was waiting for her to make the next move. It emboldened her, boosted her confidence.
Then with a mischievous grin, Melia pushed herself into him and kissed him furiously, biting his bottom lip playfully. A growl escaped his mouth and he pressed his hand into her back, pushing her hips into his. She gasped at the contact and felt the smirk on his lips between kisses. He moved his hips against hers, the friction of his underwear welcome against her skin, and she moaned, running her hands through his hair. His hand on her back migrated lower and she inhaled, pressing her chest against his to elicit a groan from him. Melia struggled to breathe in between locking her lips with his, but did not stop. She was ravenous, wanting every touch of his that she could get. Gradually, Dunban moved his kisses away from her mouth, down her jawline, and ending in the middle of her neck. It was too much. She closed her eyes sighed between breaths, leaning her head back and pushing her hips into his. A wave of desire crashed through her, flooding her senses.
She wanted him.
Everywhere.
No.
The voice whispered from the back of her mind and she stopped still, paralyzed.
The truth wound its arms around her, suspending all sensuality in her body. It bared its ugly head in her mind, poison dripping into the emotions swirling in her veins: she couldn't give herself away. The rationality shouted through her mind, its voice drowning out the urges of desire. She was treading a fine line between yearning and logic. Ultimately, no matter how great a hunger it was, the Empress could not let him fully possess her body. She had to close off her heart, otherwise it would rip apart when he left.
"Melia."
Panting, she refocused on the beautiful face in front of hers.
"Yes?"
"I asked if you wanted to sleep."
She shook her head. The woman did not think she could sleep with such a weight on her heart. Nor did she think he could either.
"Then I'd like to do as you asked." Dunban whispered.
Her heart froze as heat bloomed between her legs.
"I...can't." Her voice cracked, distraught.
"That's not exactly what I meant." She looked at him, surprised. The Homs gave her a sly grin. Then, he leaned over and whispered in her ear. As the velvety sounds caressed her, her eyes widened. The words both intrigued and terrified her. The Empress had heard of what he was proposing before, from her ladies in waiting. She had even once or twice daydreamed about it. But never had she pictured herself encountering such a situation.
As he pulled away, Melia inquired, "Um...is that something you want to do?"
"I wouldn't have offered if I didn't. The only question is are you comfortable?"
The young woman looked down, concentrating on the place where her body disappeared under the sheet. It was quite an exposing activity, and required trust. Of course, she did trust him. That wasn't the problem. It was self-conscious response. In some ways, the thought of him doing it embarrassed her. Although it also excited her. The Homs Entia tossed the idea back and forth in her head. It wasn't strictly sex, and yet it fell into a similar category. But when would she have this opportunity again? To be with someone she genuinely cared about?
Perhaps never.
Especially if she were to follow tradition and choose a consort not based on love, but on political reasons.
And she was extremely curious about the whole thing, despite the insecurities she felt.
It would be just enough to satiate her desire. And she would go no further. A reasonable compromise.
At least, that's what she told herself.
"Yes...I think so."
Dunban raised his eyebrows; a silent gesture of skepticism.
Melia narrowed her gaze. "I did say yes."
He gave her a rogue smile, and her heart flipped. "As you wish, Empress." Planting one more passionate kiss on her lips, he slid down the bed. As his hand ran over her body, it passed over her left breast and lingered, his thumb brushing over her nipple. A gasp escaped her lips, and a blush immediately followed. His fingers continued downward, tracing a path down her torso, grazing her hip bone, until they were in line with his head at her legs.
Dunban looked up at her, his eyes still questioning whether or not she was alright with what was about to happen.
Melia closed her eyes and leaned her head back, a signal of consent. She felt his calloused, but gentle hands spread her legs and the cotton cloth of her underwear slide down her skin and fall away.
She tensed. How was this supposed to be relaxing? All she felt was awkward, uncomfortable. On some level, ashamed. Panic caught hold of her breath and the impulse to sit up and cover herself overwhelmed her.
But a powerful vibration ran through her, and she moaned, forgetting everything but the sensations below.
Bzzt.
Melia's eyes flew open as her extrasensory hearing picked up an electrical noise. The sound was almost inaudible, but just enough to wake the Homs Entia from her slumber. Carefully, the Empress turned to her left to see Dunban's sleeping form. Her eyes watched as his chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. The sides of her lips curved upward as she gazed upon the man in her bed. Despite their shaky future (if there was one at all she reminded herself), the woman did not regret letting him into her bed. An unnamed emotion took a hold of her and she reached out to caress his cheek, her hand hovering just above the skin. Thinking better of it, she retracted her hand. Better to let him rest. Peace was in short supply these days and she wanted to give him as much as she could.
Bzzt.
Jerking her head to the right, her ears perked up at the noise. There it was again. Delicately, Melia rose from the bed, easing herself off the mattress to cause the least amount of disturbance to her bedmate. She paused, listening for the ringing, but only silence greeted her ears. Melia closed her eyes, willing it to come to life once more.
But it was not the buzzing sound, but a high pitched tone the shot through her ears. It was faint, just on the outer reaches of her acute hearing. Wincing, Melia swept her eyes over the room. But it was undisturbed, just as everything had been only two hours before when she and Dunban had retreated to the bedroom. That meant it must be originating from the parlor.
With a quick glance over her shoulder, the Empress gently opened and closed the bedroom door, the soft click of the handle fading into the silence a quickly as it had come. Melia studied the darkened parlor, shadows dancing before her eyes. Slowly, her vision adjusted and they scanned the scene for the origin of the noise. As her eyes glossed over the outlines of the furniture and the artwork on the walls, Melia found the room untouched as well. What was the hum coming from?
Then something caught her eye.
A small dot of red light flashed, penetrating through the blackness. But it blinked out of existence too quickly. Holding her breath, the woman waited for another moment, and the red light was back with its piercing glow. It was flashing on a sequence, she realized. Squinting, Melia followed the trail of light to her desk.
The crackling became louder with each step on the carpeted floor, sending a shiver down her spine.
As the young woman neared the desk, her eyes identified the different contents scattered across the surface. Melia's hands worked in a flurry, moving papers to the right and writing utensils to the left. She chastised herself; she knew better to keep her things organized, though the last few days had tried her patience. Or was it general apathy to all order? It didn't matter now and she pushed the thoughts away. Finally, there was nothing left on the surface but a single box. The red light shone from the slits on the side, and Melia pulled the top off. Putting her hands into the box, her fingers closed over a cold, metal object. She lifted it out, studying the shape in the darkness. The red flicked once more, giving Melia a brief look at the item. It was a communicator. Her fingers moved to feel for the power switch. It was turned on.
Furrowing her brow, the Empress reached over to the right and pulled out a drawer from the desk. Reaching inside, she pulled forth another communicator. Her communicator. And it was powered off.
She looked in her left hand. This one was not hers. Someone had put it there.
Her body tensed.
Someone wanted to communicate with her off regular channels. Away from public airwaves; on an untraceable frequency. The beats of her heart broke their steady rhythm in favor of an all out run. It must have been placed while she was investigating Nae'ell's room. Which meant Nae'ell had been watching her movements.
She wanted to vomit.
Distressed, Melia turned her head left and right, trying to catch any evidence of an intruder. But there was none. Everything in the parlor lay untouched, peaceful in the darkness. She turned her eyes back to the communicator in hand. The red light was still blinking, taunting her. Someone wanted to converse.
Lifting it up to her face, the woman swallowed, her throat dry. Trembling, Melia adjusted the volume, placed her thumb on the white button and whispered, "Hello?" The crackling continued as her voice traveled over the airwave, the harsh noise grating in her ears.
"Hello, Melia."
Her heart skipped a beat. Nae'ell.
"I see you invaded my privacy. Did you find anything interesting?"
Nausea flooded her stomach as she remembered the smell permeating every single thing in Nae'ell's room. The memory summoned in her mind, she was back in the bedroom, vomiting over the carpet as the rotting odor filled her nostrils. Stomach in knots, the Empress forced the stench away, breathing deeply the clean air filling the atmosphere around her. There was no doubt in Melia's mind that Nae'ell was referencing Camar's corpse.
Tightening her body, Melia gripped the communicator firmly and pressed down on the white button once more. "Where are you?"
"Oh, my dear. So angry. Is that any way to speak to your sister?"
"You haven't been my sister since you started this mess."
"What mess? Oh, you mean this saboteur business. Well, I did my best to guide you to the right decision. But you resisted my advice at every turn."
"Advice? Is that what you call your crimes? I will have you arrested for your transgressions."
"Oh, Melia. You must learn to not play your cards too quick. Why don't you meet me and we can have a conversation face to face?"
"Where?"
"Meet me at Hovering Reef 9, my dear. And come alone."
Hovering Reef 9. That was where the...
Oh no.
There was no way she couldn't venture there by her lonesome. This was a trap in the making and she was not stupid enough to walk into such a blatant ambush.
"I understand."
"No, I don't think you do. If you do not come alone, I will know. And I will proceed to explode every single bomb I have planted in the Villa."
What?
Bombs in the Villa. Bombs that could kill all her friends, topple down into the Great Hall, potentially injuring and killing more people. She shivered in the darkness. She could not let that happen.
There was a pause on the line before Nae'ell's voice came through the device again. "Now do you understand?"
Melia nodded, trying to swallow but her throat was raw. Bombs in the Villa. Her heart skipped a beat as fear clouded her thoughts.
"What guarantee do I have you won't detonate them?"
"You'll just have to trust me. You've done that before. It shouldn't be so hard."
Melia clenched her jaw but said nothing.
"Do we have a deal?"
"...yes."
"Good. Then I will see you soon, my dearest sister."
There was a scream on the other end, and then the line cut out. Her eyes went wide. Who had screamed? Where had that come from? Did Nae'ell have someone hostage? Her mind spiraled as set the communicator down on the desk as her throat closed. What if it were Fiora? Or Sharla? Any of her friends?
Squeezing her eyes shut, the woman fought the tears that threatened to burst from under her eyelids and stream down her cheeks. She had to go. The madness had to stop. No more collateral damage could occur because of this war between herself and Nae'ell. She wouldn't let it. Her hands trembled and she wrapped her arms around her waist. Nae'ell was waiting for her. And if she didn't meet her alone, everyone she cared about would die and possibly more. It was a simple choice.
The Empress took a deep breath in and out, releasing the tension in her body. Another deep breath and another. Finally on the fourth, she felt her body start to calm itself. If she were to confront Nae'ell, she had to think straight. First, she needed clothes. Second, she needed to leave without alarming her bodyguards. Third, she needed to fly a shuttle out to Hovering Reef 9.
Quietly, she put the communicator back on the desk, contemplating the obstacles that lay before here. Clothes were easy. Procuring a shuttle and flying it was simple. But she had to get out without alerting James and Elrich. Or Dunban. Melia looked to the balcony. There was no way around James and Elrich. They certainly wouldn't let her wander alone at this hour, even if she gave them a plausible reason. So she would have to fly to the landing pad. It was quite a distance, and would tire her, but there was no way around it. And she reasoned that she could recover her energy while flying to Hovering Reef 9 (though she would need to leave the shuttle at the previous reef; if Nae'ell saw the vehicle, she would suspect the GPS signal to be active and thus detonate the bombs).
Melia had to move fast. Clothes. Her eyes flew to the bedroom door, thinking of what lay beyond. That was problematic. If she woke Dunban, he would ask her what was happening and insist on coming with her. And that could not be allowed. Steeling her insides, Melia knew what she would have to do.
Tip toeing back into the bedroom, her eyes centered on his sleeping face. Her heart ached at the thought of leaving him, but the woman did not falter. Closing her eyes and summoning her third eye, Melia imagined a large ball of purple energy growing from the center of her chest. Gradually, it morphed from a tiny speck to a handheld sphere, pulsating with ether. Opening her eyes, she felt the ether travel down her veins from her heart to her fingertips.
Opening her palms towards Dunban, she whispered, "Hypnotise."
The ball flew towards the man, enveloping his face in purple smoke. After a few seconds, it dispersed, but she could still feel the tinglings in the air. It would keep him asleep for a little longer than normal, should he wake sooner than later.
Her body groaned and she felt the urge to slump to the ground as energy rushed from her body. If she had to fight Nae'ell, she would be severely disadvantaged. Fearful tears rose up inside. She could not follow that path of thinking. She needed to focus on the current objective.
Everything was a blur as she pulled out garments, picking the most utilitarian. Shucking off her night dress, she shoved on a long-sleeved shirt and black pants she'd used for her renovation work. Then the Homs Entia rushed to her desk and scribbled a note for Elrich and James and Dunban, whoever should find it first, should something happen to her. Without another moment to waste, the Empress strode towards the balcony doors, heart dropping into her stomach. Quietly, she opened the doors, glancing behind her at the front door to make sure neither Elrich nor James had heard the creak. But the front door remained closed and the young woman walked out onto the balcony. The cold air bit her skin, but Melia felt only a taste of it. The adrenaline made her body numb to any physical pain, small or large.
Taking a large breath, the Empress climbed onto the ledge and gazed into the night. Somewhere, Nae'ell watched and waited for her. And Melia would confront her with the best of her abilities. If not for the sake of her kingdom, then for the sake of her friends. Bending her knees, the High Entia pushed off into the air and soared, one step closer to the battleground.
The scene in front of her materialized as Melia stepped off the teleporter. A dark sky dotted with little dots of light above; blue lamps casting their glow on either side of her; two High Entia guards unconscious on the ground; a figure at the far end of the hovering platform. A cold breeze danced over her skin as her eyes concentrated on the faraway individual knowing full well who it was. She swiveled her eyes to the right and left, but there was no one else. They were isolated, and Melia felt the weight of her decision pressing down on her chest. Alone with no allies. Apprehension loomed over her and she grit her teeth. There was no turning back now.
Kneeling, Melia checked the pulses of the two High Entian guards. They were faint, but there. At least they were not dead. Standing, Melia squared her shoulders and put one foot of the other, analyzing her chances of survival. Brief calculations resulted in a 50% survival rate, and possibly lower due to her exhaustion from her flight and ether usage. Clenching her staff in her right hand, the young woman continued forward, pushing away the negatives to concentrate her goal. It would do no good to dwell, and she needed every one of her senses alert.
The Empress stopped five feet away from Nae'ell, close enough to see the woman's scornful gaze but far enough to be out of reach of attack. Her turquoise eyes met a pair of icy indigo ones. They dared Melia to close the distance between them and begin the imminent battle. But Melia remained unmoved, her defiance the first gauntlet thrown in the impending altercation. Then something else caught her eye. Kneeling on the ground next to Nae'ell was another figure, face downward, a curtain of hair obscuring its identity. The scream. It was this person, whoever it was. Melia felt the urge to kneel down and reassure the individual, but kept her stance. She could not show any weakness that Nae'ell could use against her.
"Stop this at once, Nae'ell." Melia said, her voice firm and resolute.
"I'm not sure why you insist on keeping up the pretense that you are the one with power here."
"Surrender and I will assure you a fair trial for your crimes against the crown."
"Crimes against the crown? I know not what you're talking about." Nae'ell looked at her with mock surprise.
"You have sabotaged my reign at every turn."
Nonchalantly, Nae'ell shrugged. "I don't think you have any physical evidence to support that claim."
It was true. Melia felt her neck tense, an invisible hand pushing against her wind pipe and squeezing.
"There was a body underneath your bedroom. How do you explain that?"
"Self-defense. He forced me to keep him hidden. I did and then he decided to dispose of me. We fought and I killed him. I was too frightened that I wouldn't be believed, so I ran away. I'm sure the coroners will tell you the wounds on his body are in accordance with my statement."
"People would question your judgement to stash the body."
"Well, if you were to charge me with murder, the same people would question it. I did put down a psychopath who tried to take ahold of the kingdom. They would be thankful that he is gone."
Melia's hands rolled into fists. She wanted to scream. Nae'ell had thought of everything, down to the last detail. How could the Empress expose her for the villain she truly was? With no evidence save the body, would she be able to do so? Or would Nae'ell be free to move about in the world forever, a danger to Melia and those close to her?
It couldn't be the latter. The young Homs Entia would not allow it.
Nae'ell stared at her for a moment, then laughed. The sounds unsettled Melia; the disdain they were coated in. "What a naive little girl. Even if I were to be implicated, I would never surrender to a bastard."
"I am the rightful heir to the throne."
"You do not deserve the crown you wear. That crown belonged to your brother."
"If you truly knew my brother, you know he supported my father's decision to name me heir."
"Too bad your father did not know that his people would suffer under your reign. Otherwise he would have thought better. Perhaps given the title to your step sister."
Melia creased her lips into a line; she felt the knife drive into her heart and twist. The words stung and she could not respond, knowing there was some truth to them. Instead, she said, "I have done what I deemed necessary and made a few mistakes, but I have always kept the welfare of my people at the forefront of my mind."
"A few mistakes? Is that what you call them?" Nae'ell scoffed. "Was it a mistake to dismiss the trauma of your Entian brothers and sisters nine months ago? To put them in ineffectual 'therapy circles' to sort through their pain? Hoping they would just forget the trauma and move on? Or how about the cowardly decision to let Colony 9 atrocities go unpunished? You made a peace deal with them and asked for a formal apology when blood was spilled. An apology that meant absolutely nothing! What an insult to the High Entia who died! How could you do such a thing?" She glared and continued, "And was it a mistake when you chose the life of a Homs over mine? How long did you think you could hide your true colors that you value the lives of the Homs over the High Entia?"
"I..." But she trailed off. What could be said about her sins? The young woman knew they would stay with her forever, and as long as she remained the Empress, she would atone for them in the best way possible.
"You say that you do what is necessary for your people as Empress." Nae'ell sneered as she grabbed the hostage's arm and forced her up. Melia's eyes widened as she looked into the face of Miriall, flushed yet pale simultaneously. The Homs Entian screamed in pain as Nae'ell twisted her arm. "Let's play a game, shall we?"
"Stop!" Melia shouted.
"This woman is a traitor. She has conspired against you, the crown. You have plenty of evidence of her role in the plot. What does High Entian law demand you do?"
Melia hesitated.
"WHAT MUST BE DONE, MELIA?"
Inside, Melia winced, but kept her face blank. "She must be punished."
"And how?"
"The penalty for treason is...death."
"Will you do what needs to be done? Or are you too soft?" Nae'ell said and she dug her nails into Miriall's skin. The young woman shrieked, tears streaming down her red cheeks.
"Please, Empress..." Miriall gasped, wobbling on her feet.
"Nae'ell, let her go!"
"You mean let her go free? Escape her punishment."
"She must be tried before a judge and a body of her peers to determine the extent of her crimes."
"I knew you were not what you said you were." The villianness sneered.
And Nae'ell released Miriall's arm and pushed her off the edge. Miriall disappeared over the cliff, her shrieks filling the air.
"No!" Melia cried and rushed to the edge.
But it was too late. The desperate cries cut through the air. Her body a small speck as it fell towards the infinite blackness below. And then it was gone.
Silence.
Vision blurred, Melia turned and locked eyes with Nae'ell, trembling. "Why? Why did you do all of this?"
Nae'ell's face contorted into an expression of pure hatred. Her eyes glowed in rage and she bared her teeth.
In a low voice, she said, "You killed everyone I loved."
It took a second for Melia to register what the Entian woman had said. "What are you talking about?" She asked as she backed away from the edge.
"Did you even think for a second about who you were murdering during the Holocaust?"
"I don't understand."
"You came back to Alcamoth to rescue the Homs Entia trapped in the city, too frightened to brave the Telethia that roamed and escape into the world. You knew the Entia had turned into Telethia and yet you fought them. Did you think about the mothers and fathers, the children, the lovers that you and your friends butchered?"
Melia's insides squirmed.
"Do you remember the two Telethia you fought at the gate when you returned to the city?" Nae'ell scorned. "Of course you don't. They all looked alike, didn't they? But you struck them down in cold-blood, without a care."
"That's not true."
"Really? You're going to deny it? I watched you. Your barbarian friends struck them down and you finished them off. And then you ran away into the city, leaving the dead bodies to rot." Nae'ell spat. "No thought to what you had just done, killing your own people."
Melia's lip trembled. She had felt pain with every Telethian death. It had not escaped her that she was putting an end to her own people. But she did not remember that moment. It blurred with the many other battles she'd had. And that in itself was detestable she knew.
"Those were my parents. I watched as you killed my parents." Nae'ell clenched her fists, daggers in her eyes.
Oh god.
Melia cringed. The shame washed through her. Her heart pounded so hard that it hurt in her chest.
"Then you killed the First Consort. The woman who was to be my mother-in-law. The woman who welcomed me into her household with open arms."
"She was in pain! I wanted to release her from it."
"Did you know if that's what she wanted? Or was that your inner desire to get revenge?"
"No! She was my mother! I never wanted to hurt her."
"And yet you condemned her to death."
"I...I was asked to."
"You were asked to? And were you asked to kill the Prince?"
"No of course not!"
"But you still did it. You killed your own brother."
"I had to!"
"You killed the love of my life. YOU KILLED KALLIAN!" Nae'ell screamed, the sounds of hatred landing invisible blows to Melia's body, pain blooming all around.
"Nae'ell—"
"You didn't even try to find a way to save him!"
"Nae'ell, please lis—"
"Don't. Don't you fucking dare." Nae'ell seethed, tears covering her cheeks unashamed. "You deserve to suffer after everything you've done."
The Empress could no longer keep the tears at bay. They fell down her cheeks in rivers, unstoppable, drenching her face in grief. All words were washed from her mind. There was nothing she could say as the anguish permeated her body, threatening to overcome and incapacitate her.
Nae'ell wiped her tears from her own eyes though the expression of fury remained implanted in her beautiful features. "At first, I wanted to kill you. Put you down. Wipe your existence off this earth. It was easy to convince Camille. After all, some crazy Entian had already tried. It would just be written off as another lone wolf." The Entian woman began to walk, following a circular path around Melia as she continued, "But after she botched it, I realized I wanted to torture you. I wanted your own actions to be your downfall."
"What about Camar?" Melia asked, finding her voice once more.
"Camar was nothing but my pawn. He wanted you to pay too, though for different reasons. The ones of the heart. It seems you made quite an impression on him." Nae'ell mocked. "It was so easy to use him to take the fall. He wanted all the glory of 'opening the eyes of the High Entia to your wretchedness', and I was happy to give it to him. It kept me in the dark."
"But...you killed him."
"The power went to his head. He was becoming a nuisance and liability. The whole business with the coup d'etat? That wasn't part of the plan. He was going to give you the Scepter so you would feel indebted to him, and I told him not to. So he deviated. When I helped him escape, he was raving about what to do next. How we needed to strike while the iron was hot. I told him we would plan accordingly and stashed him in my room."
"...where Alderon was."
"You're finally putting the pieces together. Clever girl." Nae'ell condescended. "Eventually it was Alderon's turn to play his part. That poor, poor man. He had no sense of reality left. The perfect candidate for such a devastating mission. Demand your resignation, kill the children, kill himself. You would have no choice after that but to step down. Camar wanted to come as well and watch the show. I told him I would come back for him. And I did. Just this time with a knife."
"You waited until Alderon killed himself, didn't you?"
"I wasn't entirely sure I could trust him to carry out the plan. And then when I saw he screwed it up, I knew couldn't afford any loose ends. So Camar had to go." Nae'ell smirked. "Well, that was always the plan. It was just a question of when."
"And...Miriall?" Melia asked, new tears flooding through the dried trails on her cheeks.
"I 'took pity' on the girl and rescued her from house arrest. She was grateful, and I told her I would help her earn your mercy. That I knew she was innocent of the crime and she came willingly. What a pathetic creature. I slipped her into Kallian's room, because I knew you would never search there. You haven't been in there since he died."
Melia's eyes dropped to the ground. It was true. The Empress couldn't bring herself to go in the room and see what were his last moments. Entombed forever.
"I wanted you to be shamed out of the throne. I wanted the people to toss you out and tread on your heart. You needed to gain their approval, and I was facilitating their ultimate rejection. I wanted you to be remembered as the worst monarch in the history for the High Entian Empire. You would live the rest of your days alone in infamy, suffering for your sins and haunted by the enmity of your people. A cursed existence. One that would end in humiliation and distress."
Nae'ell narrowed her eyes at the Empress, hand slipping into the folds of her dress.
"But I know that's impossible now. So I'll settle for your death."
Then she lunged at Melia, knife in hand.
The Entian woman tackled her to the ground, her staff dropping inches away into the grass. Straddling the Homs Entia, Nae'ell poised the knife above her and cut through the air towards Melia's shoulder. It severed the skin, blood pooling out of the wound. Melia screamed and Nae'ell dislodged the knife.
"I've been wanting to do this for ages."
The Entian woman poised the knife high once more, this time over the other shoulder, but Melia pushed her hips upwards, and they tumbled to the right, a mass of arms and legs. As they slowed, Melia landed a kick to Nae'ell's stomach and jumped up, her eyes searching for her staff. She saw it and raced over, her fingers glazing the ground as she wrapped her hand around the handle, her shoulder screaming in pain as her movements were too quick for the injry. The Empress span around, just in time to see Nae'ell send a fireball towards her. With her staff, Melia summoned a purple shield in her mind and shouted, "Reflection!" The armor flew up just as the fire ball hurtled within inches of her face. It bounced off, back towards Nae'ell, its speed increased. Furious, the woman threw a blade of ice towards it, both spells disintegrating into the air.
The urge to breath heavily overcame Melia, but she kept it controlled, crouching into a defensive position, clenching her jaw against the pain in her shoulder. She flicked her eyes over the injury: blood still seeped from the incision, but at a slower rate. Melia could not give away to Nae'ell that she was at a disadvantage, her body already fatigued.
Nae'ell narrowed her eyes. Then she rushed towards the younger woman, knife ready to strike. Melia leapt to the side easily, sending a ball of lightening at the Entia. Nae'ell fumed and leapt backward, out of range of the attack. The Empress felt her spirits rise; she was on the offensive. Quickly, she imagined the ground shake underneath them. Once again, Nae'ell charged straight towards her. But Melia pointed her staff and a spout of ether shot through it into the field. Large rocks rose up from the ground, throwing Nae'ell off balance and to the dirt once more.
Adrenaline running through her veins, the Empress felt a large purple ball grow inside of her chest and pointed her staff at Nae'ell once more. "Mind Blast!" An explosion of ether headed straight for Nae'ell, who was pulling herself up from her prostrate position. It enveloped her, two ether chains binding around her upper body, squeezing her arms to her side. The knife dropped to the ground
Melia readied Hypnotise. If she could force Nae'ell asleep, then she would win. The energy bubbled within her and she felt it coming to the top. She brought her staff towards Nae'ell once more, but the woman was grinning. Melia felt her skin crawl. What had she missed?
Nae'ell was on her feet and racing at Melia. Melia tried to dodge the tackle but the pummeled to the ground. Searing pain clouded her vision as she landed on the damaged shoulder, her body screaming in pain. Nae'ell stood, the shackles disappearing into the air, and Melia rolled backward, clutching her shoulder but managing to stand. She wobbled and her lungs heaved.
It was too much. She teetered, feeling the full brunt of weakness and pain. She blinked, trying to focus.
And then she realized where she was.
"Good-bye, Melia. May you rot in hell."
Nae'ell sneered and she sent a whirlwind straight into Melia.
Then she was falling. A free fall. Watching the hovering reef get smaller and smaller.
Her stomach dropped out and she shrieked. This was no dream. The wind roared past her body and she flung her arms out, her voice filling her ears. But she continued to plummet. The dark sky was all she could see. Her body span; her limbs out of control. The air ripped at her skin as she plunged further and further downward.
Desperate, Melia thrust open her wings. They stretched and she felt them flap quickly. Too quick. She pushed and pushed, feeling the strain shoot through her head. They fluttered in the air, trying to catch the air beneath them. But they couldn't. And she continued to drop.
Tears streamed down her face and she tried to breath, her throat only catching bits and pieces of oxygen.
She was going to die.
This was it.
She opened her mouth to screa—